Navigating the fashion world one high heel at a time

Beauty is in the kitchen. Really.

Not only is avocado delicious on a Cobb salad, it has great moisturizing benefits that can help your hair and skin.

There are few things I love more than saving money and indulging my crunchy, hippie tendencies. So today, I share with you my favorite at-home beauty fixes. They’re all relatively cheap, and absolutely cheaper (and healthier!) than most beauty products you buy in stores.

Some just take a little elbow grease, but most involve raiding the kitchen cabinets and playing with food, all in the name of beauty. You game?

Hair conditioner: Smash up a whole avocado and mix it with the yolk of an egg. Coat damp hair with mixture and let it set for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and wash with shampoo as normal. Or, use 1/2 C. real mayonnaise to coat damp hair. Put on a shower cap and let it soak on hair for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and wash with shampoo as normal.

Intense body moisturizer: My favorite guacamole ingredient does double duty for the bod, too. Smash up another avocado and spread the paste on your dry skin. Let it set for 15-20 minutes, rinse and dry.

Baking Soda toothpaste: Baking soda is one of the strongest cleaners, but among the most gentle. If you’re really hardcore, you can skip the flavoring and just sprinkle baking soda on your tooth-brush and go to town. If you need a little something to mask the chalky flavor (and I don’t blame you), try this recipe, courtesy of “The Eco Chick Guide to Life,” by Starre Vartan: 2-3 drops of your favorite flavored oil (peppermint, cinnamon); 3 Tbsp. baking soda, 1 Tbsp. salt; 2 tsp. glycerin (available in drug or craft stores). Mix well and store in a covered container.

Lip and/or body scrub: If you’ve got dry, scaly skin in need of a good slough, go get some sugar. Mix 1/2 C granulated sugar with 1/2 C edible oil (extra-light olive, almond, coconut). Rub a little of the slurry on your lips and gently wipe off. For use on the body you may add 5-10 drops of essential oil for fragrance.

At home pedicure: This is by far my most favorite, indulgent, cost-effective treat. Spa pedicures can run in the $40-$75 range. At home, you can achieve nearly the same experience at a fraction of the cost. Using some of the moisturizing tips and tricks mentioned above, you can make this as elaborate or as simple as you’d like. There are six steps to keep in mind: set the mood, soak, exfoliate, trim and clean nails, moisturize and polish. For pedicures, soak you feet in a bathtub full of warm water. If the temperature is too hot, it’ll suck the moisture from your skin.